March 14, 2004

By: Kenneth Bloomberg
Website: http://www.1st-in-games.com

Fairy Tale-Favorite, Classics Continue As Compelling Trend In Game Aisle

That hot new item in the toy and game aisle this season is very likely to be a blast from the past. From beloved children’s stories to long-time parlor game favorites, many game designers are drawing inspiration from their childhood experiences – and that translates to an array of classic board and card games the whole family will enjoy! Meanwhile, board and card games continue to be one of the best entertainment values, something that parents mindful of a holiday shopping budget can appreciate.

Princess & The Pea, this sweet board game was recently recognized with the prestigious Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. Just like in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, the prince is searching for a real princess. Little girls move their princess beds along the game board, stacking mattresses as they go and trying to build the highest bed. The princess who reaches the crown space with the most mattresses stacked on her bed is revealed as the real princess and wins the game.

Box of Bunco, originally introduced as a parlor game in the 1800s, Bunco is back on the scene with Bunco nights taking place in living rooms across the country. Box of Bunco from Winning Moves Games includes everything you need to host your own Bunco night for as few as two players or as many as twelve. There are six rounds in which players try to roll 1s, 2s, 3s, and so on. Roll three of the same number and that’s a Bunco! Light competition and lots of opportunities for conversation make Bunco the perfect party game.

Rubik’s Tac Toe, recognized by Dr. Toy as one of the Best Vacation Products of 2003, is a fast-moving, easy-to-learn, two-player game. Players go head-to-head in a battle of wits, trying to be the first to create a row of three tiles – while thwarting the opponent from doing the same! The game is over in a maximum of eight turns, so you can pick up and play Rubik’s Tac Toe just about any time.

Play on Words, a Dr. Toy Top-10 Game of the Year for 2003, is a progressive card game in which players lay down words using letter cards, and then try to win by playing on each other’s words. The intensity mounts with each round, as you try to use the remaining letter cards in your hand to change or add words that have been played. Ten rounds of fun!

Rubik’s Cube, the world’s #1 puzzle and ‘80s icon is back and bigger than ever! A new generation of players is now cracking the Cube. For beginners or serious speed-players, Rubik’s Cube is the ultimate brainteaser and perfect stocking-stuffer. Winning Moves Games’ Rubik’s Cube comes complete with a booklet of solution hints.

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, children enter the amazing world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with the first board-game rendition of Roald Dahl’s timeless story. Players race around the board – a chocolate river – and visit different rooms within the factory in order to collect the six candy cards needed to win the game. Players must resist the temptation of grabbing too many pieces of candy, or they’ll be sent to the Juicing Room! Not to worry, though, as Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas are there to help children navigate their way through the world’s most famous chocolate factory.

Clue 1949—First Edition step back in time to 1949 with this fine first-edition replica of CLUE The Great Detective Game. This faithful rendition features original artwork and replicas of game pieces that were used in the 1949 edition. It comes with a beautifully illustrated “Clue Memories” booklet that chronicles the Clue game through the years and contains enhanced rules of play with special hints. A wonderful gift for the game-player on your list!